We are expecting to have about 30 artists as part of our Winter Arts Exhibition this year. What we really love about this exhibition is that it is so inclusive. Anyone can enter works. So … some works are by well established artists whilst others are by emerging artists. It is lovely to see the mix!

The Exhibition runs Saturday and Sunday 10am - 4pm, with a fun opening night on this Friday from 5 - 7pm. Come along!

We are thrilled that our AAA Arts group will enter some works this year. Our access all abilities programs are run by staff but supported by generous locals who volunteer their time weekly to help us ensure that everyone in our community has the opportunity to do the things they most enjoy.

Here are some process pictures.

8 people at Crunch last week. It was super! We ate a Penang chicken curry with rice for lunch, had a coffee and a chocolate chip bikkie, and headed out to the Community Shed for some sketching using ink and sticks for mark making.

It was fabulous to see all the different works that were produced, and to see everyone chatting as we ate and then absorbed in creativity when we were in the shed.

If you are keen to join in you can book in online.

All the fresh vegies chopped up ready for the curry!

Did you know we have a defibrillator at ACC? We’ve now permanently located it under the new pergola in the backyard. With a very prominent sign on our new pod building. So it is available for our whole community to access in an emergency 24/7.

Defibrillators save lives and are so easy to use!

This one literally talks you through the whole process. Where to put the pads … how to send the shock, when to stand back, when to do chest compressions …

We hope it never needs to be used but are super pleased to have it available for community use.

Well … a busy latter half of the week for exciting visitors …

On Thursday we had Kerry McGrath who is the General Manager of Community Strengthening at Yarra Council come past for a mini tour and chat. She is currently visiting all the houses in Yarra - which is so great because each one is so different. It was lovely to talk to you Kerry.

We really appreciate the investment that Yarra Council makes in neighbourhood houses - both financially and collegiately (so many nice people there that we work alongside to deliver shared services for our local community).

Then on Friday Keir Paterson from NHVic (our peak body) joined us for lunch … before a mix of our participants joined in a formal focus group with him and some masters students from Melbourne Uni.

NHVic is putting together a report looking into what makes people first come to neighbourhood houses - and then stay engaged. They are thinking about things like placemaking (if houses look interesting from the street does that encourage people to come inside) along with programs, events, social connection etc. etc.

As you possibly know, we have done lots of placemaking things at ACC - from changing our fences and office location so you can see we are ’home’, to all our lovely dinky signs, murals, mosaics, metal sculptures and yarn bombing in our gorgeous garden … and then there is the table tennis table, the mini golf green … also the interactive art on our fence and the book and seed exchanges. All these things make us a memorable location in the neighbourhood and encourage our community to casually interact with us … creating a feeling of friendliness and connection - before people even walk in the door!

Anyway … it is super for our locals to have the opportunity to feed into these sorts of statewide discussions. Thanks NHVic for approaching us to be part of it all!

Apart from this excitement we had a relatively quiet week with both Kalimna and I being sick … aagh. It seems we are not alone, it’s like an endless roundabout of illness at the minute isn’t it?

Anyway … onto cheerier subjects … this week we have some great things on including:

• Adult Exercise on Tuesday at 11am - it’s not too late to join in … call us if you are keen! We can do 3 weeks instead of 4. Only $15 a session - small group (you’ll get lots of love!)

• Community Playgroup on Wednesday from 10am-12pm. $5 weekly. It well attended and friendly.

• Crunch on Thursday from 12.30-2pm. We’re getting arty this week. $15 for lunch and creativity. Book in on our website (on the enrol page …)

• Our Community Morning on Friday from 10am-12pm, followed by Community Lunch at 12pm, gold coin donation if you can.

Also … put the opening night for our Winter Arts Exhibition in your diaries, Friday 16 August, 5-7pm. Come along and admire local art! We’ve heaps of entries already which is super!

We’ll have drinks and finger food - $5 a head donation. And … we’ll be officially opening our new spaces. How exciting.

Have a great week. See you soon (we hope).

Leanne

Keen to learn music, share music or dance to music?

At ACC you can join:

• Ukulele on Monday evenings. We have a new Beginners Ukulele group starting up. It is self-led (eg. there is not a formal teacher) but one of our more experienced Uke players is helping the new players get going for a little bit (how lovely is that). Call our office to find out more,

• Daniel on Tuesdays teaching guitar. If you are a keen guitarist you can contact him on 0432 674 498.

• Line Dancing on Wednesdays from 10am at the Alphington Scout Hall - always lots of fun and well attended! Call Shirley to find out more on 94892102.

• The Alphingtones Choir who meet over at St Andrews Church in Fairfield (just behind the shops) on Thursdays from 7.30pm

• Yoyo on Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings to learn violin. You can contact her on 0415 357 698.